1
CFEI Study Guide Questions with Answers (100% Correct
Answers)
Evidence - Demonstrative Answer: Tangible items; see, touch, smell,
hear.
Evidence - Documentary Answer: Written form; business records,
banking, calendars, phone records, fire reports, etc...
Evidence - Testimonial Answer: Competent live witness speaking
under oath; two types; fact and expert
Evidence - illustrative Answer: Photos, sketches, maps, diagrams.
Modes are frequently used at trial.
Evidence - illustravtive Answer: Photos and Videos; what, why, how,
when
Evidence collection Answer: Document in place, document the
collection, use proper container, (flag, bag, & tag)
Evidence - collection Answer: Fuel gas powered tools outside the
perimeter. Find out where tools were refuels.
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,2
Heat transfer Answer: Conduction, convection, radiation
Interviews Answer: Purpose of the interview; prepare for the
interview, document the interview
Vehicle Fires Answer: Sparks from an aluminum wheel are not a
competent ignition source.
Vehicle Fires Answer: The most common source of an open flame in a
vehicle is an exhaust system backfire out of a carburetor.
Vehicle Fires Answer: Carburetor backfire leaves a distinct pattern on
the hood.
Vehicle Fires Answer: Two basic fuel systems: vacuum/low pressure
carbureted system, and high-pressure, fuel injected system.
Vehicle Fires Answer: Loose battery connections; not over-current
protected; loose connections can result in intermittent arcing.
Vehicle Fires Answer: Power steering fluid: Flashpoint 347-356F,
autoignition 680-720F.
Vehicle Fires Answer: Automatic Transmission Fluid: Flashpoint 302-
536F, autoignition 626-716F.
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,3
Vehicle Fires Answer: Overcharging a battery does not cause it to
explode.
Explosions Answer: Low order damage: characterized by walls bulge
out or laid down, virtually intact, next to the structure. roofs slightly
left.
Explosions Answer: High order damage: shattering of the structure,
producing small debris pieces.
Explosions Answer: Post blast effects: burned debris away-fire
preceded, unburned the debris away-no fire.
Explosions Answer: Dust explosions: most often occur in confined
areas of relatively wide dispersal.
Explosions Answer: Search 1.5 times further than the farthest piece of
debris.
Fire effects/ fire patterns Answer: Char shrinks as it forms. More
reliable for evaluating fire spread, deduce the direction based on
depth, large shiny blisters (alligatoring) is not evidence of the use of an
accelerant.
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, 4
Fire effects/fire patterns Answer: Spalling: loss of surface material due
to cracking, breaking, chipping, breakdown in surface tensile strength,
moisture present in the concrete, may appear lighter in color.
Fire effects/fire patterns Answer: Crazed glass: caused by rapid
cooling.
Fire effects/fire patterns Answer: Light bulbs 25W or more "pull"
(gases expand and bubble out); 25W or less contain a vacuum and can
pull in.
Fire effects/fire patterns Answer: Annealing (softening) of springs may
provide clues concerning direction, duration, and intensity.
Fire effects/fire patterns Answer: Saddle burns - A U-shaped burn
pattern found on the top of floor joists, caused by fire burning down
through the floor. Often, a saddle burn is caused by a burning liquid
on the floor or radiant heat from a material close to the floor. Saddle
burns display deep charring.
Fire effects/fire patterns Answer: Inverted cone burns are indicative of
the vertical flame plume not reaching the ceiling, short-lived fires with
a low HRR
© 2025 All rights reserved
CFEI Study Guide Questions with Answers (100% Correct
Answers)
Evidence - Demonstrative Answer: Tangible items; see, touch, smell,
hear.
Evidence - Documentary Answer: Written form; business records,
banking, calendars, phone records, fire reports, etc...
Evidence - Testimonial Answer: Competent live witness speaking
under oath; two types; fact and expert
Evidence - illustrative Answer: Photos, sketches, maps, diagrams.
Modes are frequently used at trial.
Evidence - illustravtive Answer: Photos and Videos; what, why, how,
when
Evidence collection Answer: Document in place, document the
collection, use proper container, (flag, bag, & tag)
Evidence - collection Answer: Fuel gas powered tools outside the
perimeter. Find out where tools were refuels.
© 2025 All rights reserved
,2
Heat transfer Answer: Conduction, convection, radiation
Interviews Answer: Purpose of the interview; prepare for the
interview, document the interview
Vehicle Fires Answer: Sparks from an aluminum wheel are not a
competent ignition source.
Vehicle Fires Answer: The most common source of an open flame in a
vehicle is an exhaust system backfire out of a carburetor.
Vehicle Fires Answer: Carburetor backfire leaves a distinct pattern on
the hood.
Vehicle Fires Answer: Two basic fuel systems: vacuum/low pressure
carbureted system, and high-pressure, fuel injected system.
Vehicle Fires Answer: Loose battery connections; not over-current
protected; loose connections can result in intermittent arcing.
Vehicle Fires Answer: Power steering fluid: Flashpoint 347-356F,
autoignition 680-720F.
Vehicle Fires Answer: Automatic Transmission Fluid: Flashpoint 302-
536F, autoignition 626-716F.
© 2025 All rights reserved
,3
Vehicle Fires Answer: Overcharging a battery does not cause it to
explode.
Explosions Answer: Low order damage: characterized by walls bulge
out or laid down, virtually intact, next to the structure. roofs slightly
left.
Explosions Answer: High order damage: shattering of the structure,
producing small debris pieces.
Explosions Answer: Post blast effects: burned debris away-fire
preceded, unburned the debris away-no fire.
Explosions Answer: Dust explosions: most often occur in confined
areas of relatively wide dispersal.
Explosions Answer: Search 1.5 times further than the farthest piece of
debris.
Fire effects/ fire patterns Answer: Char shrinks as it forms. More
reliable for evaluating fire spread, deduce the direction based on
depth, large shiny blisters (alligatoring) is not evidence of the use of an
accelerant.
© 2025 All rights reserved
, 4
Fire effects/fire patterns Answer: Spalling: loss of surface material due
to cracking, breaking, chipping, breakdown in surface tensile strength,
moisture present in the concrete, may appear lighter in color.
Fire effects/fire patterns Answer: Crazed glass: caused by rapid
cooling.
Fire effects/fire patterns Answer: Light bulbs 25W or more "pull"
(gases expand and bubble out); 25W or less contain a vacuum and can
pull in.
Fire effects/fire patterns Answer: Annealing (softening) of springs may
provide clues concerning direction, duration, and intensity.
Fire effects/fire patterns Answer: Saddle burns - A U-shaped burn
pattern found on the top of floor joists, caused by fire burning down
through the floor. Often, a saddle burn is caused by a burning liquid
on the floor or radiant heat from a material close to the floor. Saddle
burns display deep charring.
Fire effects/fire patterns Answer: Inverted cone burns are indicative of
the vertical flame plume not reaching the ceiling, short-lived fires with
a low HRR
© 2025 All rights reserved
